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Rick Whitacre

@rick-whitacre.bsky.social

Photographer specializing in night sky, eclipses, and auroras. Tech info is on my Flicker page and TL videos are on Vimeo. I teach a workshop at the Ansel Adams Gallery https://flic.kr/ps/uFQvd https://tinyurl.com/56nxrbrr https://tinyurl.com/4f66zfhc

205 Followers  |  311 Following  |  57 Posts  |  Joined: 12.11.2024  |  2.0897

Latest posts by rick-whitacre.bsky.social on Bluesky

I have something similar but always forget to use it. :-)

04.10.2025 03:34 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Wow!

04.10.2025 03:19 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Tech details in Alt Text and here: flic.kr/p/2rjywku

01.08.2025 00:32 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
A Deepscape image of the Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex setting over Cathedral Peak from Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park. Antares is the bright yellow star at the center of the frame

A timelapse video of the frames taken is here: <a href="https://vimeo.com/1105606262?share=copy#t=0" rel="noreferrer nofollow">vimeo.com/1105606262?share=copy#t=0</a>

Deepscapes are made by using an Equatorial Tracker to track the nebulae as they move through the night sky to gather enough data to bring out more detail than can be captured in a single image. Planning is required to determine where the Deep Sky object will rise or set and then place yourself at the right spot to capture them with a dramatic earth-based foreground. The location of the camera and the focal length used does not change. The relative size and place of the Cloud Complex to Cathedral Peak have been preserved.

Sony A7IV astro modified, Sony 70-200mm f/2.8, 163mm, f/4, ISO3200, 60 sec. Sky stacked using Siril and then composited with a Blue Hour foreground taken from same location and focal length. Over 2 hours of Lights collected to bring out the detail. Full set of Darks, Bias, and Flat frames were also captured.

A Deepscape image of the Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex setting over Cathedral Peak from Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park. Antares is the bright yellow star at the center of the frame A timelapse video of the frames taken is here: <a href="https://vimeo.com/1105606262?share=copy#t=0" rel="noreferrer nofollow">vimeo.com/1105606262?share=copy#t=0</a> Deepscapes are made by using an Equatorial Tracker to track the nebulae as they move through the night sky to gather enough data to bring out more detail than can be captured in a single image. Planning is required to determine where the Deep Sky object will rise or set and then place yourself at the right spot to capture them with a dramatic earth-based foreground. The location of the camera and the focal length used does not change. The relative size and place of the Cloud Complex to Cathedral Peak have been preserved. Sony A7IV astro modified, Sony 70-200mm f/2.8, 163mm, f/4, ISO3200, 60 sec. Sky stacked using Siril and then composited with a Blue Hour foreground taken from same location and focal length. Over 2 hours of Lights collected to bring out the detail. Full set of Darks, Bias, and Flat frames were also captured.

Cosmic Volcano - Cathedral Peak and the Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex

01.08.2025 00:10 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Amazing collection!

30.07.2025 00:30 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Sublime! A real beauty

27.07.2025 21:32 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Amazing!!!

29.06.2025 17:54 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Stunning!! Bonus shot from the moonlit HTF?

28.04.2025 02:44 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Wow!!

23.04.2025 00:45 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Damn!!!

16.04.2025 01:19 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Why isnโ€™t MSNBC carrying it live??

01.04.2025 21:57 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Ignore them, bro.

21.03.2025 00:47 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

If you wonโ€™t fight, resign and let someone take your job who will. Respectfully

14.03.2025 23:02 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

That rocks! Wow

07.03.2025 07:17 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Great comp, Dan!

20.02.2025 19:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Looks amazing!!

17.02.2025 00:33 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Really stunning. Love it

11.02.2025 01:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Grumpy old manโ€ฆ :-)

09.02.2025 22:41 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Thatโ€™s a keeper!

07.02.2025 22:01 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Thanks!

05.02.2025 21:32 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Sony A7IV astro modified, Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3, 500mm, f/6.3, ISO3200, 90 sec. Sky stacked using Siril and then composited with a Blue Hour foreground taken from same location and focal length. Over 4 hours of Lights collected to bring out the detail. Full set of Darks, Bias, and Flat frames were also captured.

Sony A7IV astro modified, Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3, 500mm, f/6.3, ISO3200, 90 sec. Sky stacked using Siril and then composited with a Blue Hour foreground taken from same location and focal length. Over 4 hours of Lights collected to bring out the detail. Full set of Darks, Bias, and Flat frames were also captured.

Flame and Horsehead Nebulae over Mount Whitney

A Deepscape image taken from Lone Pine, CA. The location and relative sizes of the nebulae and Whitney have been preserved.

Tech details: flic.kr/p/2qK1cJQ
Timelapse video: vimeo.com/1053583172

05.02.2025 17:01 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 12    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

That is very brave. Are there any special oils you have to use for re-assembly?

04.02.2025 22:01 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Does anyone know if there is a group of photographers that commit to not use AI? Itโ€™s not hard to tell them now, but itโ€™s going to get much harder. I donโ€™t want to second guess every great photo I see.

31.01.2025 21:45 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 6    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 3    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Love the mood!

31.01.2025 21:40 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Post image

Sunset Toroweap

This is one of the panos that went into my Night to Day image posted below. Taken at Toroweap Overlook on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon

25.01.2025 20:05 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 14    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Thank you, Ryan! They are not easy to pull off, but we sometimes get lucky

25.01.2025 20:03 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Post image

Night to Day - Toroweap

It was actually taken from Sunset to after astro-dark, but Western readers like going left to right, hence titled Night to Day. The crescent moon shows up in the Blue Hour section in the middle. Pre-BlueSky image taken a few summers ago

25.01.2025 19:50 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 14    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Thatโ€™s a stunner. Great work

25.01.2025 19:41 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Dang! Love it

24.01.2025 01:01 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Welcome!

24.01.2025 00:56 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

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